Factsheet 4 – October 2007

Taxi drivers and area knowledge certificates

As a taxi driver, you are required to hold a current passenger (P) endorsement on your driver licence, and hold and display a current photo driver identification card.

If you work in certain defined areas, you will also be required to hold an area knowledge certificate for the area or areas in which the taxi organisation you work for operates.

For more information on P endorsements, see Factsheet 42, P endorsements and Factsheet 61, Renewing endorsements.

This factsheet tells you all you need to know about getting an area knowledge certificate.

What is an area knowledge certificate?

An area knowledge certificate is a certificate that shows you have passed a general knowledge test relating to the area or areas your taxi organisation operates in. It also shows that you have demonstrated an ability to communicate in the English language.

Which areas require an area knowledge certificate?

Taxi drivers operating in these areas require an area knowledge certificate:

• Ashburton
• Auckland metropolitan (North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland, Manukau and Papakura)
• Blenheim
• Christchurch metropolitan
• Dunedin
• Gisborne
• Hamilton
• Hastings
• Invercargill
• Kapiti
• Levin
• Masterton
• Napier
• Nelson
• New Plymouth
• Palmerston North
• Pukekohe
• Queenstown
• Rotorua
• Taupo
• Tauranga
• Timaru
• Wanganui
• Wellington metropolitan (Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua)
• Whakatane
• Whangarei.

Drivers working in Auckland and Wellington

If you work in the Wellington and Auckland metropolitan areas you must hold all the area knowledge certificates for the entire metropolitan area.

If you have been working as a taxi driver before 1 October 2006, and hold one of the area knowledge certificates required, you will be considered to hold all the area knowledge certificates for that area.

If you started working as a taxi driver after 1 October 2006, you will need to obtain the remaining area knowledge certificates by 1 April 2008 or complete the new metropolitan test for that area.

All drivers

If the area you are operating in is in the list. you must not accept a hire in that area if you don't hold an area knowledge certificate for that area.

If the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has reason to believe you don't have adequate knowledge of the area in which you are operating, you can be required to re-sit and pass the area knowledge certificate for that area.

If you're new to the industry, you have to pass the area knowledge certificate test before you can drive a taxi in one of the listed areas.

Even if don't need an area knowledge certificate, you are still legally required to have adequate area knowledge of the area in which you are working.

How do I get an area knowledge certificate?

You have to pass the required tests with an approved area knowledge course provider, who will then issue you with your area knowledge certificate. A list of approved course providers is available from any NZTA office.

Which test do I need to sit?

If you want to be a taxi driver in Auckland or Wellington, you need to sit the test for metropolitan areas. If you want to be a taxi driver in any other area of New Zealand, you need to sit the test for non-metropolitan areas.

Identification you must have

When you sit the area knowledge test, you must show photo ID to the person testing you. The identification could be a current New Zealand photo driver licence or a current passport.

How you can prove you've got an area knowledge certificate for your area

You can prove you've got an area knowledge certificate by:

• showing the certificate to the taxi organisation you wish to work for
• having the taxi company that employs you record that you hold the right area knowledge certificate(s)
• retaining the area knowledge certificate given to you by the course provider with your business records.

Questions and answers

What if my taxi company changes its operating area?

You'll need to get an area knowledge certificate for the new area before you can work there.

What if I change companies and work for a taxi company with a different operating area?

You'll need to get an area knowledge certificate for the area or areas where your new taxi company operates.

What if I change companies and work for a taxi company with the same operating area?

You won't need a new area knowledge certificate, but your new taxi company may ask you to sit its own test to make sure that you know the area.

English language requirements

All taxi drivers are required to have the ability to communicate to passengers and others in English.

While the area knowledge certificate tests taxi drivers' English skills, the NZTA can request additional English language testing if there are reasonable grounds to suggest that a driver isn't able to communicate adequately with passengers. This applies whether or not an area knowledge certificate is required.

Test for metropolitan areas

When you apply to sit this test with an approved area knowledge test provider, they'll give you the complete set of test questions (all the possible questions you could be asked). Use this information to study for the test.

An approved area knowledge test provider will then test you on all of the following things.

Objective 1

You'll be given the names of 20 pick-up points and 20 destination points in the area being tested. You'll be asked to name, from memory, the most direct route between each set of pick-up and destination points. To pass you have to correctly name out loud at least 18 out of the 20 routes, in English, and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 2

You'll be given the names of 25 major buildings and locations of interest in the area the test applies to. You'll be asked to write down their addresses, in English and from memory. To pass you need to get the addresses right for at least 23 out of the 25 places. The examiner has to be able to clearly understand your answers.

Objective 3

You'll be given a list containing the names of the main roads in the area the test applies to. You'll be asked to write down, in English and from memory, where these roads start and finish. You have to list the start and finish points correctly for at least 18 of the 20 roads, and the examiner has to be able to clearly understand your answers.

The start/finish of the roads is determined by the street numbers (ie low numbers = start, high numbers = finish).

Objective 4

You'll be asked to say out loud, in English and from memory, the names and direction of travel of the one-way streets in the area the test applies to. You've got to get them all right (maximum of 10) and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 5

You'll need to list from memory the locations of the 'no right turn' and 'no left turn' signs in the area the test applies to. You've got to write down all the locations correctly (maximum of 10 'no right turn' and 10 'no left turn' signs), and in written English that the examiner can clearly understand.

Objective 6A

You'll be given a road map and a list of five road names, including suburbs. You will have to find each road in the map index, and write down the map page number and grid reference. You'll also have to go to the map page and grid reference, and write down the types of roads and symbols found in each grid reference.

You need to get all the map page numbers, grid references, and roads and symbols found in each grid reference correct, and write them down in English that's clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 6B

You'll be given a road map with compass references, a specific location that you pretend to be standing in, and a list of five suburbs. You need to say out loud the direction (to the nearest compass point, eg north, south, east or west) of the five suburbs from the location you pretend to be standing in. You've got to get all the compass point directions correct, answer in English and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 7

You'll have to answer questions about the knowledge you need to safely and effectively carry out a taxi service. The examiner will randomly pick the questions. You need to answer eight out of 10 questions correctly, speaking in English and from memory. Your answers have to be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 8

You'll be asked to say out loud, in English and from memory, where the main public taxi ranks are in the area being tested. You'll have to name all of them (maximum of 20) and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Test for non-metropolitan areas

When you apply to sit the non-metropolitan test with an approved area knowledge test provider, they'll give you a resource book to study.

The area knowledge test provider will then test you on all of the following things.

Objective 1

You'll be given the names of 20 pick-up points and 20 destination points in the area being tested. You'll be asked to name, from memory, the most direct route between each set of pick-up and destination points. To pass you have to correctly name out loud at least 18 out of the 20 routes, in English, and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 2

You'll be given the names of 15 major buildings in the area the test applies to. You'll be asked to write down their addresses, in English and from memory. To pass you need to get the addresses right for at least 12 out of the 15 buildings. The examiner has to be able to clearly understand your answers.

Objective 3

You'll be given the names of 15 locations of interest in the area the test applies to. You'll be asked to write down their addresses, in English and from memory. You need to get the addresses right for 12 out of the 15 places. The examiner has to be able to clearly understand your answers.

Objective 4

You'll be given a list containing the names of all the main roads in the area the test applies to (the list won't include more than 20 roads). You'll be asked to write down, in English and from memory, where the main roads start and finish. You have to list all the start and finish points correctly, and the examiner has to be able to clearly understand your answers.

Objective 5

You'll be asked to say out loud (in English and from memory) the names and direction of travel of the one-way streets in the area the test applies to. You've got to get them all right (maximum of 10), and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 6

You'll need to list from memory the locations of the 'no right turn' signs in the area the test applies to. You've got to write down all the locations correctly (maximum of 10), and in written English that the examiner can clearly understand.

Objective 7

You'll be given a street map of the area the test applies to, and a list of six major city or town buildings. You'll need to point out on the map where the buildings are. You have to get all six right to within one city or town block, and be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 8

You'll be asked to write down, in English and from memory, the names and locations of all the major commercial wharves in the area. You need to get them all right, and be clearly understood by the examiner.

This objective may not be applicable to some areas.

Objective 9

You'll be asked to write down, in English and from memory, where the main public taxi ranks are in the area being tested. You'll have to list all of them (maximum of 20), and your answer must be clearly understood by the examiner.

Objective 10

You'll have to answer questions about the knowledge you need to safely and effectively carry out a taxi service. The examiner will randomly pick the questions. You need to answer nine out of 10 questions correctly, speaking in English and from memory. Your answers have to be clearly understood by the examiner.

Where you can find out more

For more information, contact NZ Transport Agency:

• Email info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Call our contact centre on 0800 699 000.
• Write to us: Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.